Darius Rucker at Charter Amphitheater

South Carolina's own Darius Rucker rolled into the Charter Amphitheater in Simpsonville, South Carolina on Friday, May 31st in support of his new album, "True Believers".

Darius, originally famous for being lead singer of the band Hootie and the Blowfish, has expanded his pop roots and branched into the country for recent solo albums. With "True Believers", his third solo album, he has created a blend of songs written and sung by him, collaborations with others, and covers, including the current number 1 country hit "Wagon Wheel", originally written by Bob Dylan and adapted further by the Old Crow Medicine Show.

To call the response of fans in attending Friday's concert is an understatement, as Darius set the new attendance record for the venue, beating the original record set by the Zac Brown Band by over 4000 attendees. 12,000 fans purchased tickets to cheer for Darius and enjoy his unique voice and sing along friendly lyrics.

Listening to the songs during the show, there is a definite nod to traditional country music, but Darius adds in a Pop/Rock flair, making it enjoyable to a wider range of fans. The crowd definitely agreed, as they enthusiastically responded to the songs in his set whether they were from the new album or something they were already familiar with. The new songs seem to be perfect for rolling down the car window, throwing in a cd, and riding down the road. With collaborations with fellow musicians Sheryl Crow and Lady Antebellum, Darius keeps good company, and has earned the respect of his peers in the country music world quickly – a testament to his talent.

During his set, in addition to songs off of his CDs, Darius threw in a few surprises, including a cover of "The Joker" by the Steve Miller Band.

With Darius' talent at writing great songs and entertaining crowds, I look forward to his future releases and seeing him in concert again. He is one of those rare talented musicians that can make his mark in different genres, and will keep delivering great music.